The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 197

Freya’s POV

My heart clenched. This was the question I'd been dreading. "No, not directly. There are rumors that he's..." I hesitated, unwilling to tell them that their son was essentially a captive of the Brooks family, used as leverage against me. "...that he's alive and in hiding."

Relief flashed across both their faces. "That's more than we knew," my mother said softly.

My father leaned closer, his voice dropping to ensure the guards couldn't hear. "The Riley bloodline has been pure for generations, Freya. We cannot allow our family name to carry the stain of traitors. It's not true—none of the accusations were true."

"I know," I whispered back. "I've never believed them."

"Tell your brother, when you find him, that he must clear our name," my father continued urgently. "You just need to stay safe, protect yourself and your bloodline dignity. Ethan is the one who must restore our family honor."

I nodded, though internally I questioned whether that was even possible. The Grey Moon Pack's judgment seemed as immovable as the mountains themselves.

We continued talking, sharing carefully edited versions of our lives since the exile. I told them about my design work, carefully omitting any mention of creating binding ceremony jewelry for Thorne and Kaelin. They told me about the small garden they'd managed to cultivate in the Wilds, how they'd adapted to life without modern conveniences.

All too soon, a border guard approached, signaling that our time was nearly up. My mother clutched my hands tightly, memorizing the feel of them.

"We need a moment to say goodbye properly," my father told the guard, who nodded stiffly and stepped back a few paces.

My father positioned himself to block the guard's view and any monitoring devices they might have set up. His voice dropped to the barest whisper as he leaned close to my ear.

"Be cautious, Freya. When you return, watch out for the Grey and Brooks families. They are not what they seem."

I stiffened in shock, my eyes widening as I stared at him. He gave a barely perceptible nod, confirming the seriousness of his warning.

"What do you mean?" I whispered back.

"Not here," he murmured. "They're always watching. Just be careful who you trust."

Before I could press further, the guard called out, "Time's up!"

My mother embraced me one last time, slipping something small and hard into my palm. "For protection," she whispered. "Keep it hidden."

I closed my fingers around the object, not daring to look at it in front of the guards. With a final embrace, I reluctantly separated from my parents, watching as they were escorted back toward their sector of the Wilds.

My heart felt simultaneously lighter for having seen them and heavier with new worries as I walked back toward the checkpoint. My father's warning echoed in my mind: Watch out for the Grey and Brooks families. They are not what they seem.

What did he know that I didn't? What secrets were hidden behind my exile and my family's disgrace?

The border guards processed my exit without incident, and soon I was walking back toward the parking area where Jasper waited. He stepped out of his car when he saw me, his expression concerned.

"How did it go?" he asked as I approached.

"They're alive," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "They've formed a small pack, created a life of sorts. It's more than I dared hope for."

Jasper smiled, genuine warmth in his expression. "I'm glad. You deserve this small comfort, at least."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I mentioned a surprise. This is for you."

I opened the box to find a delicate diamond pendant on a silver chain. "Jasper, I can't accept this," I said immediately.

"Of course you can," he insisted. "I know Thorne took your crescent pendant. Consider this a replacement until you get it back."

I hesitated, remembering Thorne's possessive rage when he'd seen me wearing the professor's pendant. "Thank you, but—"

"No buts," Jasper interrupted, taking the necklace from the box. "Turn around, let me put it on you."

Reluctantly, I turned, lifting my hair so he could fasten the clasp. I felt the cool weight of the diamond settle against my skin.

"Perfect," Jasper murmured, but didn't step back. Instead, he leaned closer, his nose nearly touching my neck where the Riley birthmark sat. I felt him inhale deeply, taking in my scent in a way that went beyond casual interaction—this was an Alpha scenting a potential mate.

I froze, my wolf immediately alert to the territorial behavior. This was dangerous ground. An Alpha's scenting was an unmistakable claim of interest, a preliminary to courtship. I could feel his breath warm against my skin, sending involuntary shivers down my spine.

"Jasper," I said warningly, trying to step away. "This isn't appropriate."

But he didn't move back, his Alpha presence enveloping me as he continued to breathe in my scent. "Your bloodline is remarkable, Freya. Even after everything, the Riley strength shines through."

The sudden roar of an approaching engine shattered the moment. I turned to see a black SUV racing toward us, tires kicking up dust and gravel, the engine growling like an enraged predator.

I immediately recognized the vehicle—and its driver. Thorne Grey's golden wolf eyes were visible even through the windshield, his expression thunderous as he bore down on us.

"Jasper," I gasped, pushing against his chest. "Move! What are you doing? Are you insane?"

But Jasper merely raised an eyebrow, making no attempt to create distance between us. His casual defiance of another Alpha's obvious territorial display was either incredibly brave or suicidally foolish.

I stepped back from him just as Thorne's SUV skidded to a halt mere feet away from us, the aggressive posturing of both Alphas creating a suffocating atmosphere of impending violence.

---

Thorne's POV

The monitor showed everything—Stone placing the necklace around Freya's neck, leaning in to scent her, his nose brushing against the crescent birthmark that marked her as Riley blood. My vision went red, a growl erupting from my chest.

"Sir?" the technician asked nervously.

I was already moving, storming out of the monitoring room and toward the garage where my SUV waited. My wolf was clawing to the surface, furious at Stone's blatant territorial challenge. Freya might be in Silverstone territory, might even be employed by Stone, but she was MINE—my responsibility, my exile, my...

I didn't complete the thought as I slammed the SUV into drive and sped toward the border checkpoint. Stone knew exactly what he was doing—scenting a wolf, especially at the sensitive neck area where mating bites were placed, was an unmistakable declaration of interest. He was deliberately provoking me, using Freya as the bait.

And I was responding exactly as he wanted. The rational part of my brain recognized the manipulation, but my wolf was beyond caring. All that mattered was getting to Freya, removing her from Stone's presence, and making it abundantly clear that she was under Grey Moon protection.

The border guards scrambled out of my way as I blew past the checkpoint, not bothering with the usual protocols. I spotted them immediately—Stone standing too close to Freya, his posture relaxed but unmistakably possessive.

I slammed on the brakes, the SUV sliding on the gravel as it came to a stop just feet from where they stood. Through the windshield, I saw Freya's expression shift from surprise to alarm. She stepped back from Stone, but he made no move to create appropriate distance.

This was a direct challenge. Stone knew I would be monitoring the visit—had likely planned this entire display for my benefit. The calculated insult made my blood boil.

As I threw the SUV door open, I could feel my wolf eyes glowing golden with rage, my canines lengthening despite my attempts to maintain human form. One thought consumed me as I stepped toward them:

Stone would not take what was mine.